Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Lectionary: 178
Lectionary: 178
On that day they
will sing this song in the land of Judah:
“A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.”
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
“A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.”
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
Responsorial Psalm PS 118:1 AND 8-9, 19-21, 25-27A
R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of
the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD’s;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD’s;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia IS 55:6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his
disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
Meditation: "Who shall enter the
kingdom of heaven?"
What’s the best security against disaster and
destruction? In the ancient world a strong city, an impregnable fortress, and a
secure house were built on solid rock because they could withstand the forces
of nature and foe alike. Isaiah speaks of God as an “everlasting rock” (Isaiah
26:4). He is the rock of refuge and deliverance (Psalm 18:2) and the rock in
whom there is no wrong (Psalm 92:15). Scripture warns that destruction will
surely come to those who place their security in something other than God and
his kingdom. Jesus’ parables invite us to stake our lives on the coming of his
kingdom or face the consequences of being unprepared when the day of testing
and destruction will surely come.
When Jesus told the story of the builders he
likely had the following proverb in mind: "When the storm has swept by,
the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm for ever" (Proverbs
10:25). What's the significance of the story for us? The kind of foundation we
build our lives upon will determine whether we can survive the storms that are
sure to come. Builders usually lay their foundations when the weather and soil
conditions are at their best. It takes foresight to know how a foundation will
stand up against adverse conditions. Building a house on a flood plain, such as
a dry river-bed, is a sure bet for disaster! Jesus prefaced his story with a
warning: We may fool humans with our speech, but God cannot be deceived. He
sees the heart as it truly is – with its motives, intentions, desires, and
choices (Psalm 139:2).
There is only one way in which a person's
sincerity can be proved, and that is by one's practice. Fine words can
never replace good deeds. Our character is revealed in the choices we make,
especially when we are tested. Do you cheat on an exam or on your income taxes,
especially when it will cost you? Do you lie, or cover-up, when
disclosing the truth will cause you injury or embarrassment? A true
person is honest and reliable before God, one's neighbor and oneself. His
or her word can be counted on. If you heed God's word and live according to it
then you need not fear when storms assail you. God will be your rock and your
refuge. Is your life built upon the sure "rock" of Jesus Christ and
do you listen to his word as if your life depended on it?
"Lord Jesus, your are my Rock and my
Refuge. Help me to conform my life according to your word that I may stand firm
in times of trouble and find hope in your promises."
 Flood-Proof |
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December 4, 2014.
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
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Matthew 7:21,
24-27
Jesus said to his
disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom
of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a
wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the
winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set
solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not
act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell,
the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed
and was completely ruined.”
Introductory
Prayer: Lord, I come before you
in humility and with a spirit of hope. You no doubt have something to tell
me. I approach you in prayer, confident of your love and trustful of your
grace to enable me to carry out whatever you ask. I offer this prayer for
those in my family who might be far away from you.
Petition: Lord, help me deepen my life of faith and charity, to
better prepare for the trials ahead.
1. The
Façade: It is easy to address
Jesus as "Lord, Lord." After all, we know by faith that he is the
Son of God. His miracles and the endurance of his Church attest to his divine
nature. Yet, our recognition of his divinity isn’t enough. Our admission that
"Jesus is my savior" won’t guarantee us a place in heaven. Faith in
Christ can’t just remain on our lips; it must penetrate our hearts and minds
as well. Faith, then, implies doing the will of God the Father – in thoughts,
words and deeds. How does my faith in Christ translate into acts? Am I
satisfied with saying a few prayers, and little else?
2. Out of
Sight: Christ exhorts his
disciples to build their faith on rock, not on sentimentality. To dig a solid
foundation of faith takes hard work. It demands constancy in prayer, charity
and generosity. It also requires humility and purity of intention, since the
work of preparing a foundation is not glamorous. There’s nothing particularly
beautiful about a big hole in the ground at a construction site. So it is in
the spiritual life, too; digging a foundation forces us to go deep, to remove
our worst faults. The process isn’t pretty. It forces us to face our vices
honestly and to rip away the mask we might wear in front of others. Without
this step we risk building our lives on sand. How well am I digging my foundation?
3. Too
Late: Foundations seem firm
when all is calm. Fair weather doesn’t test the strength of a building. The
real test comes when the climate turns nasty. The same occurs in the
spiritual life. When serenity reigns around us, peace blossoms effortlessly.
But when a crisis befalls us – a rejection, an illness, a bit of opposition
over a moral matter – that’s when we learn the sturdiness of our faith.
Peter, who boasted that he would stand by Our Lord "though all may have
their faith in you shaken" (Matthew 26:33), learned the hard way that
his courage wasn’t what he thought it was. He abandoned Christ in the garden
of Gethsemane, as did all the apostles. How well do I face ordinary
temptations and setbacks? How well could I face a serious crisis?
Conversation with
Christ: Lord, I fear sometimes
that I’m not much better than Peter, who bragged that he would stand by you,
but then fled when the guards arrested you on Holy Thursday night. I want to
be a true Christian witness in the world, but I need your help to overcome my
human respect and laziness.
Resolution: I will do one external act of witness to the faith.
By Father Edward
McIlmail, LC
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, ADVENT WEEKDAY,
MATTHEW 7, 21, 24-27
(Isaiah 26:1-6; Psalm 118)
(Isaiah 26:1-6; Psalm 118)
KEY VERSE: "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock" (v 24).
READING: Jesus concluded his Sermon on the Mount by saying that it was not enough to perform works of healing and miracles yet live contrary to his teachings. The true disciple was one who imitated Jesus' dedication to God's will. Jesus illustrated his teaching by the Palestinian practice of building houses on a rock foundation. The house built on the sand of the wadi was in danger of being swept away by the floods that followed the winter rains. Those who ignored Jesus' words were building upon a superficial footing. Their faith would collapse when trials beset them. Christians who obeyed Christ's teachings were building on a stable foundation that would withstand the storms of life.
REFLECTING: How can I shore up the weak places in my spiritual house?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me obey your word in your Church.
Optional Memorial of John of Damascene,
priest and doctor of the Church
John of Damascene was highly educated in the classical fields. He defended the use of icons and images in churches through a series of letters opposing the anti-icon decrees of Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople. He wrote "The Fountain of Wisdom," the first real compendium of Christian theology, along with other works defending the orthodox faith, commentaries on St. Paul, poetry, hymns, and adapted choral music for use in the liturgy. John was such an excellent speaker that he was known asChrysorrhoas ("golden-stream"). John of Damascene was the last of the Greek Fathers of the Church, and the first of the Christian Aristotleans. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1890 by Pope Leo XIII.
Thursday 4 December 2014
St John Damascene. Isaiah
26:1-6. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord—Ps 117(118):1, 8-9,
19-21, 25-27. Matthew 7:21, 24-27.
‘As you pray, do you seek
to get God to help you, or for you to be God’s helper? For you to use God, or
for God to use you?’
St Ignatius asks this in
his Spiritual Exercises. Today’s parable in Matthew says: ‘If you
strive ever so hard according to your own plans the foundations will fail
you—built on the shifting sands of human endeavour. But if you sincerely seek
to build—though ever so much more slowly—on the deep rock of God’s planning,
he will never allow the building to be shaken.’
All great saints and
mystics feared being deluded through self-planning rather than being submissive
planners. Lord, show me your paths, and lead me only in your ways; to be yours
only and forever.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
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An Enlightened Eye
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The Lord who comes to us, the presence of Christ who abides in us,
will enlighten our eyes. I would like to suggest it is both the inner eye of
the heart as well as the outer eyes that are indeed enlightened, so we can see
everything in the interconnectivity and greatness.
December
4
St. John Damascene
(676?-749)
St. John Damascene
(676?-749)
John spent most of his life in the monastery of St. Sabas, near
Jerusalem, and all of his life under Muslim rule, indeed, protected by it. He
was born in Damascus, received a classical and theological education, and
followed his father in a government position under the Arabs. After a few years
he resigned and went to the monastery of St. Sabas.
He is
famous in three areas. First, he is known for his writings against the
iconoclasts, who opposed the veneration of images. Paradoxically, it was the
Eastern Christian emperor Leo who forbade the practice, and it was because John
lived in Muslim territory that his enemies could not silence him. Second, he is
famous for his treatise, Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, a
summary of the Greek Fathers (of which he became the last). It is said that
this book is for Eastern schools what the Summa of
Aquinas became for the West. Thirdly, he is known as a poet, one of the
two greatest of the Eastern Church, the other being Romanus the Melodist. His
devotion to the Blessed Mother and his sermons on her feasts are well known.
Comment:
John defended the Church’s understanding of the veneration of images and explained the faith of the Church in several other controversies. For over 30 years he combined a life of prayer with these defenses and his other writings. His holiness expressed itself in putting his literary and preaching talents at the service of the Lord.
John defended the Church’s understanding of the veneration of images and explained the faith of the Church in several other controversies. For over 30 years he combined a life of prayer with these defenses and his other writings. His holiness expressed itself in putting his literary and preaching talents at the service of the Lord.
Quote:
“The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God, as John the theologian and evangelist says: ‘But as many as received him, he gave them the power to be made the sons of God....’ Let us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics and just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let us emulate their faith, charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and perseverance unto death, so that we may also share their crowns of glory” (Exposition of the Orthodox Faith).
“The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God, as John the theologian and evangelist says: ‘But as many as received him, he gave them the power to be made the sons of God....’ Let us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics and just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let us emulate their faith, charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and perseverance unto death, so that we may also share their crowns of glory” (Exposition of the Orthodox Faith).
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 7,21.24-27
Lectio:
Thursday, December 4, 2014
1st Week of Advent
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
to those who trust in you
and live the gospel of your Son,
you are a dependable rock.
In the storms and tensions of our times,
may our faith never waver,
but give us the courage
to live as we believe,
consistently, radically,
that with your Son we may do your will
and live in your love now and for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 7, 21.24-27
'It is not anyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.
'Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock.
But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!'
3) Reflection
Today’s Gospel narrates the end of the Discourse on the Mountain. The discourse on the Mountain is a new reading of the Law of God. It begins with the Beatitudes (Mt 5, 1-12) and ends with the house built on the rock.
• It is a question of acquiring the true wisdom. A source of wisdom is the Word of God expressed in the Law of God. True Wisdom consists in listening to and practicing the Word of God (Lk 11, 28). It is not sufficient to say: “Lord, Lord!” The important thing is not to say beautiful words about God, but rather to do the Will of the Father and, therefore, to be a revelation of his love and his presence in the world.
• The one who listens to and practices the Word, constructs the house on the rock. The solidity of the house does not come from the house in itself, but rather from the land, from the rock. What does the rock signify? It is the experience of God’s love revealed in Jesus (Rm 8, 31-39). There are some persons who practice the Word in order to merit God’s love. But love is not bought, purchased, neither do we merit it. (sg 8, 7). The love of God is received gratuitously. Let us put into practice the Word not to merit love, but to say thank you for the love we have received. This is the good earth, the rock, which gives security to the house. The true security comes from the certainty of God’s love! It is the rock which sustains us in the moments of difficulty and in storms.
• The Evangelist ends the discourse of the Mountain (Mt 7, 27-28) saying that the crowds remained admired by the teaching of Jesus, because “he taught with authority, and not like the Scribes”. The result of the teaching of Jesus is the critical awareness of the people concerning religious authority of the time. Admired and grateful, the people approved the beautiful and diverse teaching of Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• Am I among those who say “Lord, Lord”, or among those who put the Word into practice?
• Do I observe the Law in order to merit love and salvation or in order to thank God for his love and his salvation?
5) Concluding Prayer
O Lord, grant salvation!
O Lord, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Ps 118)
Lord our God,
to those who trust in you
and live the gospel of your Son,
you are a dependable rock.
In the storms and tensions of our times,
may our faith never waver,
but give us the courage
to live as we believe,
consistently, radically,
that with your Son we may do your will
and live in your love now and for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 7, 21.24-27
'It is not anyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.
'Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock.
But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!'
3) Reflection
Today’s Gospel narrates the end of the Discourse on the Mountain. The discourse on the Mountain is a new reading of the Law of God. It begins with the Beatitudes (Mt 5, 1-12) and ends with the house built on the rock.
• It is a question of acquiring the true wisdom. A source of wisdom is the Word of God expressed in the Law of God. True Wisdom consists in listening to and practicing the Word of God (Lk 11, 28). It is not sufficient to say: “Lord, Lord!” The important thing is not to say beautiful words about God, but rather to do the Will of the Father and, therefore, to be a revelation of his love and his presence in the world.
• The one who listens to and practices the Word, constructs the house on the rock. The solidity of the house does not come from the house in itself, but rather from the land, from the rock. What does the rock signify? It is the experience of God’s love revealed in Jesus (Rm 8, 31-39). There are some persons who practice the Word in order to merit God’s love. But love is not bought, purchased, neither do we merit it. (sg 8, 7). The love of God is received gratuitously. Let us put into practice the Word not to merit love, but to say thank you for the love we have received. This is the good earth, the rock, which gives security to the house. The true security comes from the certainty of God’s love! It is the rock which sustains us in the moments of difficulty and in storms.
• The Evangelist ends the discourse of the Mountain (Mt 7, 27-28) saying that the crowds remained admired by the teaching of Jesus, because “he taught with authority, and not like the Scribes”. The result of the teaching of Jesus is the critical awareness of the people concerning religious authority of the time. Admired and grateful, the people approved the beautiful and diverse teaching of Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• Am I among those who say “Lord, Lord”, or among those who put the Word into practice?
• Do I observe the Law in order to merit love and salvation or in order to thank God for his love and his salvation?
5) Concluding Prayer
O Lord, grant salvation!
O Lord, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Ps 118)
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